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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Day 337, December 3 - Revelation 3

8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

The thing I noticed about verse 20 is the context. I've heard this passage used a lot in the context of salvation and that Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. Yet in the context of this passage Jesus is speaking to the church at Laodicea, Christians, and the fact they were lukewarm in their faith. I do believe Jesus reaches out to us through his Holy Spirit and tries to draw us in. But I'm not sure that's the context of this passage as much as He is knocking on the door of the hearts of those who call Him Lord yet are complacent in their faith.

2 comments:

19 Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. 20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

If we extend the passage to include vs. 19, I think maybe we get a better clue as to the message. Maybe He wants the Laodiceans, who have been "split out" because they were lukewarm, to repent and open the door completely to Him. Even though He has spit them out, He is giving them a chance to ask for redemption. It is comforting to know that even when we falter and lose sight on Him, He keeps knocking.

Revelation 315 'I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot ; I wish that you were cold or hot. 16 'So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. 17 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, 18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed ; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. 19 'Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline ; therefore be zealous and repent. 20 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock ; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. 21 'He who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. 22 'He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.' "